Superior efficacy of 100-Hz transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in reducing post-stroke spasticity: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Yingxiu Diao, Xiaomin Niu, Jiahao Huang and 4 others
PMID 41068908WHAT IT FOUND
High-frequency TENS (100 Hz) significantly reduced post-stroke spasticity, while lower frequencies showed no benefit.
The effect was consistent across acute, subacute, and chronic stroke phases. Motor function and daily living activities also improved, but these results were less stable.
Key findings
01TENS at 100 Hz significantly reduced spasticity scores compared to control, whereas frequencies below 100 Hz showed no significant difference.
02The reduction in spasticity was significant across all stroke phases (acute, subacute, and chronic), with a pooled effect size favoring TENS.
03TENS improved upper limb motor function and activities of daily living, but sensitivity analyses showed these results were less robust than the spasticity findings.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
Read the rest of this summary
You get three full summaries a month, free, and we do not ask for a card. Search, the TL;DRs and your library stay unlimited either way.
What it does not show
Significant heterogeneity was observed among the included studies regarding stimulation parameters, electrode placement, and treatment protocols. Publication bias was detected in the spasticity outcomes, suggesting the true effect might be smaller than reported. The Modified Ashworth Scale, used in many studies, has limitations in distinguishing neural from mechanical components of spasticity. Results for motor function and activities of daily living were sensitive to the exclusion of individual studies, indicating less certainty for these outcomes.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Shenzhen Health Economics Association and a teaching reform grant from the Medical School of Shenzhen University. No specific conflicts of interest were declared by the authors regarding commercial entities.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume all TENS protocols are equally effective. The benefit for spasticity was specifically linked to 100 Hz stimulation; lower frequencies did not show significant improvement over control. Additionally, the improvement in daily activities was less certain than the reduction in spasticity.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →